Justice Luiz Fux of the Brazilian Supreme Federal Court (STF) has announced a schedule for a public hearing focused on the provisional measure that bans betting in Brazil. This session will be part of Direct Action of Unconstitutionality (ADI) 8027, which is under Fux's jurisdiction.
A total of 28 entities have been invited to participate, including members from the federal government, sports clubs, and various sports organizations.
Participants are required to submit the names and powers of attorney of their representatives to adi8027@stf.jus.br by 3 PM on Thursday. Each entity is allowed to designate up to two representatives.
The hearing will occur on November 3, beginning at 10 AM in the Second Chamber's session room at the STF. It will also be broadcast on TV Justiça, Radio Justiça, and the STF's YouTube channel. Each entity will have ten minutes to present their views regarding Provisional Measure (MP) 1.394/2026, which bans fixed-odds betting and terminates licenses awarded to companies in the field.
Among the participating entities will be well-known football clubs like Flamengo, Fluminense, Botafogo, Cruzeiro, São Paulo, and Corinthians, along with the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF) and the Brazilian Olympic Committee (COB).
Other presenters include the Attorney General’s Office (AGU), the Ministries of Finance and Sports, and the Prosecutor General’s Office (PGR). Additionally, associations representing the betting sector, such as the National Association of Games and Lotteries (ANJL) and the Brazilian Institute of Responsible Gaming (IBJR), will share their insights. Organizations advocating for economic freedom and market regulation, including the Brazilian Association for Economic Freedom (Able) and the Brazilian Association of Radio and Television Broadcasters (Abert), are also included in the lineup.
ADI 8027 was filed by the ANJL, demanding the immediate suspension of Provisional Measure 1.394/2026 and a subsequent declaration of its unconstitutionality once the trial concludes. This action also seeks to affirm the legality of existing laws regulating fixed-odds betting in Brazil. Similar challenges are presented in ADIs 8,024, 8,028, and 8,035.
The STF is also reviewing additional ADIs, specifically 7721, 7723, and 7749, which contest Law 14.790/2023, known as the Betting Law, designed to regulate this betting type in the nation.
A public hearing was held in November 2024 on these ADIs, attended by over 50 experts and representatives from both public and civil sectors. The AGU has proposed reconvening, noting that new evidence regarding the impacts of betting warrants an updated discussion on the provisional measure.
The timeline for the upcoming hearing begins with ten minutes of introductory comments from Fux, followed by presentations from the football clubs and then statements from the CBF and COB. After a lunch break, the AGU will provide their perspective, followed by the ministries of Finance and Sports. The ANJL and IBJR are scheduled to speak between 3 PM and 3:20 PM, with the International Gaming Association concluding the day's discussions around 5 PM.
